Thursday, February 28, 2013

We have a little Saturday morning ritual, this family of mine. After wrestling around in bed, we head out for morning coffee to Black Walnut Café in nearby Woodlands for takeaway coffee and delicious eggs and potatoes, cooked on a greasy grill. Reef walks around making friends with customers and staff. He’s so content to crawl up on the cushy chairs and people watch, waving at those who make eye contact with him. It gives Pete and I a few precious minutes to kick back and sip our coffee. Then we take turns chasing Reef down the paths outside, until he’s had enough and it's time to go home. It's such a lovely, relaxed start to our weekend. I love Saturdays!

What is your Saturday morning ritual? If you don't have one, imagine one up and share it.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Monday, February 25, 2013

I've always been a little self conscious of the camera. I prefer to be behind it. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older or maybe it’s that I’m more a harried mother, not as kempt as I used to be. With a few new wrinkles and tired, puffy eyes.

And then some days, I think how silly! My kids will want pictures of me. Moreso when I’m no longer around. They will want to see the way I looked at them – in awe. The way I laughed – with happiness pouring out of me. The moments I hugged them – with oh so much adoration.I am not perfect to look at. Nor am I perfect to love. But I am perfectly their mother.

Lovelies, we’ll never have the perfect hair. Or the young skin we had as children. We might never be super slim. Or have a different nose…

But I promise you that our children will love looking at our pictures. They will love the crows feet, because it meant we laughed a lot. They will love the sun spots, because it reminded them of our adventures at the beach. They will love our little bit of extra pudge, because it meant that mom did some wonderful baking.

Friday, February 22, 2013

i'm a little late posting snipits from valentine's day. but it was lovely.

my husband has given me more in a marriage than I knew was possible...such constant, selfless love. he has made me better in a zillion ways. he has made all my dreams come true...and that is truly an understatement.

our children -- they fill me up. i don't deserve them, not even for a day & yet they all love me so unconditionally & perfectly.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Friday, February 15, 2013

As you know, AMHE started out as a truly personal blog…a means to stay in touch with friends and family who are miles away, so I still somewhat consider myself new to the blogging ‘community’ in regards to soliciting sponsorship and/or generating revenue. There have been the onesy twosy companies that have contacted me over the past year, and because I didn’t feel as though I had anything to offer in exchange, they took a backseat.

My blog following has increased exponentially the past few months – a gorgeous bunch -- and companies are seeking me out to advertise and/or write reviews of their product samples. I’m feeling a little shy and embarrassed and excited all at once. Not to mention, honored.

I recently set out to construct my media kit, after loads and loads of internet research, and consulting other (more experienced bloggers) that actually receive sponsorship. And because there are so many beautiful souls out there willing to help me, I reciprocate the favor by paying it forward.

Hope this helps!

A media kit is a means to promote your blog or business. It portrays a sense of professionalism to the client. Some may only see you as ‘just a mom blogger’ when you’re SO MUCH MORE than that – you’re sophisticated, an influencer, educated, experienced, and you mean business.

So, what should I include in my media kit?

Intro

In the corporate world, we call it an “elevator pitch.” There’s your 15-second pitch and your 30-second pitch. Depending on the audience and the time they have to review your media kit, it’s probably safe to err with the 15-second pitch. It should include a short, concise explanation of who you are and what you’re about.

Stats

Include your traffic statistics: blog subscribers, Facebook likes, Twitter followers, Pinterest followers, Google+ followers, Instagram followers, and the like. Mention your monthly page views, unique feed subscribers, new visitors and pages per visit. Be proud, but don’t exaggerate the numbers. Be who you are; the numbers will come in time.

You might also include, in this category, your demographics. Identify large circles of people you might be associated with in real life. What is your role at your child’s school or sport, church, junior league?Have you won any awards relative to what you’re advertising? If so, list it.

If you’ve already began working with noteworthy companies, reference them.

Advertising

You can choose to forego your pricing on your initial kit, but I find more than not, that it’s helpful to be upfront in all regards. Identify the size of the ad (125x125, 250x250, etc) and how much each size will cost per week or per month. Another helpful tactic is offering a discount to clients who book ad space for upwards of 6 months to 1 year.

Contact Info

If you leave off any pertinent contact information, don’t be surprised if no one contacts you. Be thorough! And make it easy to reach you.

Final note: create your media kit in Word or PowerPoint, and then convert it to a .pdf. Google should be able to help you locate a free PDF convertor if you do not have Adobe Acrobat.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

We are doing some big design/ redesign projects at home. Which means I drown myself with as much inspiration as possible to get my creative juices flowing and make myself think outside my norm.

Rooms I'm swooning over lately...

I can't wait to share with you my husband's latest DIY project. A new kitchen table, much like the one in this picture. I've become a huge fan of the rustic wood juxtaposed with the more modern perimeter cabinets. The industrial pendant lights and minimalistic accents are pretty great, too!

This home is the epitome of laid-back sophistication in my book. The spaces are airy yet cozy, classic yet contemporary, and stylish wthout being fussy. It's a wonderful take on the modern house - a truly beautiful and tranquil retreat.

I like the idea of adding a dose of vibrant color to a room with statement chairs. Especially during this time of year, when everyone seems to be looking for ways to inject more color into their home, bold chairs are a great way to introduce new hues to a space.

An otherwise neutral room can be completely transformed into a unique, eye-catching space with the addition of these colorful chairs & stools.

You can never go wrong with mustard yellow and grey. I love that it's both cheery & classic, and is a slightly more sophisticated, updated palette than the ever-popular pale yellow and grey.

I love just about everything in this room. The mix of mustard & grey furniture, and the travertine coffee table make for a stylish living room.

The white walls, light-filled rooms, and expansive views create an open, airy quality, while the exposed wood beams, wood-toned furniture, and textiles give the home a warm, welcoming vibe. Love everything about this home: